U-508
Type | IXC | |||||||||
| Ordered | 20 Oct 1939 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 24 Sep 1940 | Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 304) | ||||||||
| Launched | 30 Jul 1941 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 20 Oct 1941 | Oblt. Georg Staats | ||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career 6 patrols |
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| Successes | 14 ships sunk for a total of 74,087 GRT | |||||||||
| Fate | Sunk 12 Nov, 1943 in the Bay of Biscay north of Cape Ortegal, Spain, in position 46.00N, 07.30W, by depth charges from a US Liberator aircraft (VB-103/C). 57 dead (all hands lost). | |||||||||
Attacks on this boat
26 Feb 1943
While outbound from France through the Bay of Biscay on her 5th day the boat was attacked by a British B-24 Liberator bomber (Sqdn 224, pilot Peter J. Cundy) and seriously damaged. Cleverly, commander Staats ran west to get out of Allied range and asked for help, unable to dive. He made port on 15 March, 1943. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 200)
12 Nov 1943
The sinking of U-508 Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: American PB4Y-1 Liberator (VB-103 USN/C, pilot Ltjg Ralph B. Brownell, USNR)
At 01.16 hours the last message was recieved from the Liberator which reported that they were attacking a U-boat 95 miles north of Cape Penas. A search later showed two oil slicks in the area, one larger than the other, about five miles apart. The aircraft apparently attacked the outbound U-508 and both perished, leaving no survivors. 57 men died from the boat and 10 from the plane. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)
2 recorded attacks on this boat.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-508 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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